“Holy crap,” I murmured. “Imagine living with all that history. Knowing exactly who you are and where you come from dating back to nearly a thousand years.”
Roane nodded. “Aye, and it being what it is. Northumberland is considered one of the grandest and richest dukedoms, and although the castle is their official seat, they have three other estates across Britain. Moreover, Alnwick Castle is the second-largest inhabited castle next to Windsor.”
“Windsor Castle, as in the queen’s Windsor Castle?”
“Aye. Now”—Roane glanced at his watch—“we just have time before it closes, so let’s hurry.”
“What? The castle?”
“No. One of the State Rooms. They’re only open to the public for a certain length of time because the family uses them.”
“That’s so cool,” I murmured, hurrying to keep up with him as he maneuvered us through the castle, clearly knowing it like the back of his hand. Then he walked through a doorway, and my breath caught as I followed him in.
A library.
A magnificent, beautifully furnished library with a walking gallery above us.
“I thought you’d like this.”
My gaze moved from the rows and rows of leather-bound books to Roane. Love filled me to bursting, until it was a pain in my chest. “I like you,” I whispered.
I love you.
The words were on the tip of my tongue, but Roane took my hand and pulled me into the room to show me more, and just like that, the fleeting bravery I’d felt disappeared.
* * *
• • •
Well, that was great,” I said, cuddling into Roane’s side as we strolled through the grounds back toward the parking lot. “Thank you for bringing me.”
Roane raised our clasped hands and pressed a kiss to my knuckles. “Anytime, angel.”
We were staring into each other’s eyes, probably looking like two people who were sickeningly in love, when someone called out Roane’s name.
He stiffened, his step faltering before he continued on.
“Someone’s shouting for you,” I said when Roane’s name bounced down the gardens toward us.
Roane drew to a stop and turned toward the voice. I followed his gaze and saw a tall middle-aged man in the estate’s garden uniform hurrying toward us. He was grinning at Roane as he brushed soil from his hands.
“I thought that was you,” the man said, drawing to a halt.
The man seemed friendly and happy to see Roane, but Roane maintained a distant, polite expression on his face.
“Fred.” Roane gave him a tight smile. “How are you?”
“Good, good.” Fred grinned at me. “I’d shake your hand but—” He wiggled his dirty fingers.
“Oh, that’s okay. I’m Evie.”
“You must be the girlfriend we’ve been hearing about. It’s nice to meet you.”
“You too.”
“We’re in a hurry, Fred,” Roane said, tugging on my hand. “I’m supposed to pick Shadow up in ten minutes.”
The man’s ruddy face fell. “Ah, of course. Sure, sure. Bring Evie to the Lion’s Head one evening so we can get to know her.”
“Will do.” Roane nodded, and before I could say goodbye, I was pulled along with Roane, whose long strides were hard to keep up with.
Tension radiated from him as he frog-marched us to the SUV.
“What is going on?” I finally asked, feeling a little out of breath as we rounded the Defender.
“Nothing. I just . . .” He winced. “Fred would have had us chatting for hours, and we only get today to ourselves.”
Not sure I was buying that excuse, I got into the passenger seat and opened my mouth to tell him so, but my cell cut me off. Digging through my purse, I pulled it out and saw it was an international number. Penny. I showed it to Roane before I answered.
“Evie.” Penny’s familiar voice made me smile.
“Hey. How are you? How’s Australia? I’m with Roane, FYI.”
“Oh, then put me on speaker.”
I did as she asked and waited as she and Roane exchanged pleasantries. As Roane pulled out of the parking lot, Penny dropped her news.
“I’m staying in Melbourne. I’m happy here.”
Overjoyed for her, I told her so.
“We’ll miss you,” Roane added.
“I’ll miss you all too. But I think I needed to be here. To move on, finally. It means, however, that I’m selling the store. You’re still good to run it for the next four weeks, Evie, but there will be an estate agent coming in to value the store and the flat, so I’ll need you to give them access.”
I swallowed hard, bitter disappointment filling me as I realized the store would no longer be mine. Neither would the great apartment above it. “Right.”
“I’m going to send you an email with the details, who my estate agent is, etc. Okay?”
“Okay.” I cleared my throat. “Thanks, Penny.”
“No, thank you, pet. I couldn’t have done this without you.”
When I hung up, a thick tension fell between Roane and me. We still had not discussed the future—and the inevitability of me having to make a choice hung above us like a cloud that blocked out everything else.